Shock Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) hero Torquator Tasso is set to make his British debut at Ascot July 23 after pleasing his trainer, Marcel Weiss, in a final piece of work Monday morning.
There had been fears the star of German racing might skip the QIPCO King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) because of the ground, which is sure to be faster than ideal for him, but Weiss appears unperturbed.
"It will not be a problem," Weiss said, whose words were translated for visiting reporters by his assistant Julia Roemich.
"Ascot is a very nice track, and they keep it in good condition. At Hamburg, he won on fast ground. He's just maybe a bit better when the ground is a bit softer, but he can go on every ground.
"The weather looks good in England. It looks a bit like rain and a bit colder at the end of the week. I am very happy with the horse, and if everything stays like this, we will come, surely."
Torquator Tasso galloped a full circuit of Mulheim racecourse, where Weiss is based, on Monday, quickening smartly past his lead horse in the straight under Rene Piechulek, who was aboard for their 72-1 success at Longchamp in October and is now looking forward to his first ride at Ascot.
The jockey described Monday's work as "brilliant."
"I told the trainer, there was a strong pace. We did the same (work) last year before he ran in the Arc and it was the same way," Piechulek said.
There was widespread disappointment when Torquator Tasso was beaten by 18 lengths on his reappearance at Baden-Baden in May, but it was not shared by his connections, knowing that he always needs his first run. He was back to his pre-Arc form when landing a group 2 at Hamburg a fortnight ago.
"He's a very strong character, and it's not possible to make him 100% fit for the first race," Weiss added. "You can do whatever you want, he's sleeping. He needs a race to wake up, to come back, and then he's getting better and better from race to race. He gave us a lot of confidence in Hamburg."
Asked about the significance of Monday's work, Weiss said: "It was very important and it gives a lot of confidence because I saw the horse like he was last year; not like at the end of the year, but he's getting better and better."
What does he make of Torquator Tasso's chance at Ascot? "We have a lot of respect for the 3-year-olds and for Mishriff. But if you want to win the Arc, you have to beat these horses, and he's good enough."
Weiss draws comfort from the fact that two German raiders, Danedream and Novellist, have won the King George in the last 10 years. "It tells you, you can try, and you can win," he said.
Just the same, Weiss added that he would be happy with a place. Roemich added: "This is a race on the way to the Arc. He's not at 100% yet. There will be one more run after the King George, in the Grosser Preis von Baden in September."
After the Arc, there is the possibility Torquator Tasso will take in the Japan Cup before being retired to stud in Germany. Weiss and the horse's owners will discuss that prospect after Longchamp.
The more immediate plan is for Torquator Tasso to fly to England July 22. Bookmakers make him a general 10-1 shot for the King George, behind Westover, Emily Upjohn, and Mishriff.
